A press conference is planned to announce a comprehensive, integrated strategy to reduce excessive, high-risk drinking by some UCSC students, thereby creating a safer environment for students and their neighbors. The initiative is the work of Campus CURB (Community United to Reduce Bingeing), a newly formed coalition of UC Santa Cruz administrators, students, UCSC and Santa Cruz police, and community leaders. The theme of Campus CURB's fall initiative will be "UCSC Students Just Say Gnome: Party Small!"
When: 11 a.m., Thursday, October 6.
Where: Conference Room, Cowell Student Health Center, UC Santa Cruz.
Press conference details: UCSC Chancellor Denice D. Denton and other campus administrators, including University Health Services director Leslie Elkind and UCSC Police chief Mickey Aluffi, will be joined by community representatives, including Mike Rotkin, Santa Cruz mayor; Patty Sapone, deputy chief of administration for the Santa Cruz Police Department; and June Coha, of West Side Neighbors.
Background: Campus CURB's initiative will address the issue on several levels. An educational campaign will show students and others how to host safe parties and examine their responsibility for the safety of their guests and neighbors. There will also be publicity about police enforcement of existing laws that protect the community from alcohol-related harm, including DUI enforcement, party patrols to disperse unruly crowds, and enforcing laws prohibiting alcohol sales to minors. In addition, the city's newly revised "party" ordinance that imposes fines on those who repeatedly require community or police response will be utilized as a tool to curb excessive drinking.
Data collected as part of the Safer California Universities study by the Prevention Research Center indicate many student-drinking problems at UC Santa Cruz are generated at community parties surrounding the campus. Poorly controlled parties disrupt neighborhoods and can lead to student injuries or assaults.
If you plan to attend: Please contact Louise Donahue in UCSC's Public Information Office
(831/459-5312) about special parking designated for reporters covering the press conference.
